The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-02-19
CASTLE ETTRICK.
An Old Soldiers Love
Story.
fCoETEUED |


Percy was due at Castle Estrick ON the
imagine how pleased Lady Flora was with
ner good Colonel and her dear Lefty
when she heard that they had persuaded
Miss Browne 10 ride over.
Eve must do our best TO keep her until
Percy comes, she said artfully. 1t
would never do for him to feel the house
dull after having sacrificed so much to stay
with us little longer. Colonel Lyndon,
shall depend upon you"
I'VE shall all exert ourselves said
the Colonel, cheerfully. What do YOU say
Miss Morrison? will you do your pnrtt"
"Oh, yes, indeed | will, said Lefty.
Veronica loves Lefty, cried AIilly; "she
said so TO me. / believe she would like TO
take her away from US.
But there is no danger of any one tax
ing me away from You, Milly,' answered
Lefty with an atfectionate smile at her lit
tie pupil.
ave shall see. We shall see,' said Lady
Flora.
As for the Colonel. he pulled his long
mustache and said nothing. Lefty CON
tinued to be friendly and confidential
toward him; but he had not ventured vet
20 cross, by the n1inutest point, the
boundary that separates friend from
lover. In spite of all Lady Flora
could say TO rea.surc Kim, he felt keenly
the difference between them, and he feared
TO do or say anything that might prevent
her from looking upon him a friend.
On the following day he rode ont to Deep
Deane early in the forenoon, and found
Miss Browne looking marvelously hand
some and capable, in her close riding dress,
going over the farm on horseback with
General Mackenzie.
The Colonel was well mounted; but his
horse was not SO swift as Brown Bess, ana
once or twice, as they rode back 10 the
Castle over the springy ground, she shot OH
In front of him, and before, by coaxing and
gentle handling. Veronica could bring her
back into line, he had time to admire the
girls seat, her courage, and the easy way
in which she managed her horse.
They bad delightful ride together.
The Colonel, who felt amiablv disposed
toward all the world, and who was srltfi-
cienuy interested III Lady Floras designs
TO wish to make the day at Castle Ettrick
pleasant TO Miss Browne, played his part
we'll.
She saw that he admired her horseman-
ship, felt his friendliness of manner, and
hoped that he had forgotten her foolish
mistake of a few days before.
Throughout that day Veronica was
amiable and expansive, full of bright
spirits, which gushed out occasionally in
little saties of harmless fun, and more in
terested than ever-so, at least, Lady Flora
thought in Castle Ettrick and its lnhab-
itants.
No one had any difficulty in persuading
her to prolong her visit until after Percy's
arrival. He came sooner than he was ex-
pected, to the great rapture of the expect
-, ~, 4,
room, listening TO some old mothers
stories about Percy's precocity as n child
and amiabilitv as n man. when he
rushed in, radiant with health and re-
covered energy, to report himself to Lady
Flora
They had purposely RETAINED from tell.
ing him that Miss Browne was in the
house and it seemed like good omen to
him TO see her sitting there, looking very
much at home, as was her custom under
every set of circumstances.
This is an unexpected pleasure he
said, shaking hands with her.
Not to me. answered Veronica, frankly
Then YOU knew / was coming?"
knew you were coming! How could
have helped it, said Veronica mischiey.
ously. When | rode over this morning
the very windows seemed to blaze with the
news.
on must excuse us, said Lady Flora
looking with tenderness at her darling. Il
is foolish to make such fuss over him
And he does not deserve it in the least
But am afraid We can't help it,
In her heart she thought the weakness.
eNcusable, aud believed that Veronica
thought the same. Who that was unpre iu
diced could have felt differently? TO Sc,
him standing there-so bright, and hand
some, and gay, smile on his lips, and III,
light Of happiness in his eyes-even to Sc,
him wae 10 love him. He was born TO b,
loved; he was born 10 be happy; he wa.
born TO make difficulties give way befor,
him. SO thought Lady Flora on thai
summer day when she welcomed her sor
home after his brief absence.
= Poor Lady Flora And she Was said L
be one of the most capable and seems
women i'll London. Il would depend OF
my wlfe's Judgment i'll an emergen " saone,
than on my own, her husband said, ant
there were many who agreed with him, He
Judgment. All, how Love blinds us! Ant
how sweet 1t is TO close wide awake ewes
and have them tenderly bound up by hi
subtle hand Lady Flora had no iudg
ment where Percy was concerned. nor Iii,
she desire TO have any.
As for Veronica, she was touched am,
Na"tiA'NN - tkit ptIIcSS SLlt " ItltSS6Ni
Percy did not look ridiculous, as SO man,
do when they are put on pedestnls bv thei
partial friends. He was the kiudest. a
well as the handsomest, of Young princes
If he bad not been so young. and if an
other feeling had not taken possession O
her heart. Veronica might have fallen il
love with him that day. She had never seel
blm-no one, perhaps, had ever seen hin
at greater advantage. He had no littl
airs of superiority with his friends; he ac
cepted their kind speeches and the man,
small services that were showered npol
him with most charming grace. No one
not even Mile, who lowered about hin
like bee round a favo<ite flower. was tol,
- let him alone and not make fuss
Then he was perfectly frank about himself
concealing from none of them his bovisl
delight at finding himself at home again
Veronica, as she watched hiIn and Mill
together, thought that it would be one o
the pleasantest things in the world TO hav
brother like Percy Winstanlev.
She had two cavaliers 10 escort he
across the moors that evening, for III spit
OF her protest, Percy, who declared that d,
was longing for a gallop, would persist il
accompanying them to Deep peane A
the way over. his spirits were at their h.gu
est. and when, at the gates of the farm
furinel than which Veronica refused /,
;ase them b. and the Colonel hsde b..